Norwich new boy Naughton has his sights set on following Walker into England set-up

If Kyle Naughton needs any inspiration about what his spell in the Premier League could do for his career, he need only look at what happened last year to his good friend Kyle Walker.

Naughton has arrived at Norwich on loan from Tottenham, who he joined two years ago in a double deal worth £9million from Sheffield United. Walker’s loan spells at QPR and, particularly, Aston Villa last season saw him earn rave reviews and even a call-up to Fabio Capello’s England squad.

So with top-flight football finally in his sights for the year – Naughton has made just the one brief substitute appearance for Harry Redknapp in the Premier League – the 22-year-old sees no reason that he can not emulate his fellow right-back.

Limited: Kyle Naughton (right) has had few opportunities to shine at Tottenham

‘I’ve played with Kyle for a long time and he’s become a very good player,’ said Naughton, who played nine times for the England Under 21s. ‘He could go really far and I wish him all the best but I’m trying to get there myself now. I can’t see why I can’t (get into England squad). Hopefully I’ll be playing in the Premier League myself but I don’t like to think too far ahead.

‘Harry told me to go and get some experience playing in the Premier League, to enjoy myself and to show people what I can do. He’s expecting me to come back full of confidence, which I’m sure I will, and playing a lot of games. You want to push yourself to the next level. This is my next level here.’

Naughton was hardly floundering himself last season, gaining valuable experience training with Tottenham’s stars until January before joining Sven Goran Eriksson at Leicester. Naughton made such an impact during his five months there that he was named in the Championship Team of the Year and awarded the Leciester Young Player Of The Year accolade. And that spell at Leicester helped in make his mind up that Norwich was the right place to be this season.

Big time: Kyle Walker was called up to Fabio Capello's England squad

‘When I got to Tottenham, I didn’t know what to expect but training with world-class players every day, it obviously helps you. You can’t really explain what it does for you – it relaxes you. It’s a good feeling.

‘There might have been one or two
other options but, when Norwich came in, knowing the players and having
played against them for Leicester was a major factor for me. I knew that
they get it down and pass it and I wanted to be a part of that. I’ve
been very impressed with my team-mates but I saw a lot of them from
playing against them for Leicester last year. So I knew what they were
about and what I was coming to.’

Naughton
is very fast, calm on the ball and likes getting forward. He’s
predominantly right-footed but can play on either side, something Paul
Lambert explored during Saturday’s 3-0 win over Coventry.

‘I
prefer right back but I’ve played left back for other teams as well so I
can’t see that being a problem if I have to play there,’ he added, the
confidence in his voice in line with someone who has so much potential.

‘But I wouldn’t expect to just come here and get in the team. Everyone’s starting from scratch and whoever is performing will get the shirt. Everyone is fighting for places.

‘I’m settling in fast. There’s a lot
of good lads here and the staff have made me feel welcome. It’s the
right club for me because it’s got good players, it’s in the Premier
League and it’s got a good manager. Hopefully we can go far together.’

Whether
that means staying longer than a year is impossible to tell at this
stage. But with every performance he puts in, Naughton will be making a
point to Lambert and Redknapp, trying to impress two managers at once.

‘It’s
not just for the managers, it’s for yourself. You want to push yourself
to be the best. As much as I’m doing it for the managers, I’m doing it
for myself and the fans. All I can do is keep learning.

‘Hopefully
I’ll play well and then I’ll see what happens here and at Tottenham.
It’s up to them if they want to keep me but they’ve got Kyle Walker and a
lot of right backs so all I can do is my best and see what Harry
Redknapp thinks when I get back.’